Bills’ Mt. Rushmore has plenty of strong candidates

The Bills may not want a Mt. Rushmore. After all, anything with four in it serves as a reminder of something the franchise would love to forget.

But getting to four straight Super Bowls is a major accomplishment, even if the team didn’t win any of them. And the men responsible for the performances should be remembered — even if folks would love to forget those four championship games.

The 12 finalists have been determined. Pick up to four (sorry), and the outcome will be revealed on Wednesday’s episode of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN.

I don’t know a single Bills fan that would “love to forget” that we made 4 Super Bowls in a row. We aren’t bitter, we’re proud of that great team. I think the vast majority of Bills fans look back on that era fondly as an amazing run that will likely never be matched.

granadafan says:Jun 17, 2013 7:57 PM

As much as I hate to admit it, OJ belongs on this list. What he did was despicable, bu if this is just football, then he’s on the list.

You have to include Ralph Wilson on there. He has meant far more to the emergence of the NFL as a premier sports league than he gets credit for.
The other three are easy – Levy, Kelly, and the most complete Defensive End in NFL history, Bruce Smith.
Just a Raiders fan’s take on things.

Ralph Wilson for all the obvious reasons. Jack Kemp because he did win championships. Marv Levy for his intelligent and inspiring leadership. Also for coming back to the Bills and attempting to right the ship. And Bruce Smith because his defenses almost won a championship and is the NFL’s all-time sack leader.

I would love to the Juice’s sweet afro cut into granite though!

@ pftfan, lil’ Stevie won’t be the Bills #1 receiver by mid season. And not due to an injury. I like the talent @ WR! I gave you a thumbs up.

I have to rate this by the players that contributed the most to the winning-est era in team history. I have to limit my list to players as coaches and contributors are useless without the players who execute on the field.

Jim Kelly – The best QB in team history and at the most important position. NFL MVP and led the team to 4 Super Bowls. Also the only HOF QB in team history.

Thurman Thomas – OJ was a better pure runner, but Thurman was the better all around player and was the primary cog in the best offense in team history. Led the NFL in all purpose yards a record 4 consecutive years, along with 8 straight 1000 yard seasons.

Bruce Smith – 200 career sacks, 1100 plus career tackles, and 43 forced fumbles. Without question one of the top defensive ends in history.

Andre Reed – Retired 3rd in NFL history in catches and 6th in yards. While he has slid down the career list since retiring, his consistency and clutch play are unforgettable to those who watched him. People rarely realize that Jim Kelly never threw more than 475 times in his 11 seasons, making Reed’s nearly 1000 career catches, on a team loaded with talent, that much more impressive.

When I think of what makes someone a fan of a team, I think the path of least resistance is to choose a team that is always in the hunt. To be a Bills fan requires patience and thick skin. If you “thumbs down” this post you probably chose your team after they just won a Super Bowl. My hat is off to the Browns fans, the Lions fans, the Cardinals fans and ( I hate to say it) the Jets fans, that stick with a team that doesn’t have a Joe Montana or a Tom Brady on their Mount Rushmore. Just four players that they are proud to consider the best on their list of players that graced their Sundays with hope that they would take them to the place that others take for granted.

Wilson-There from the start
Kemp-Only rep from the ’64-’65 Champs (total lack of respect for history reflected with these choices)
Simpson-Second only to Jim Brown (2000 yds in 14 games!)
Kelly-The leader. 4 straight AFC Championships.

Juice needs to be on this list…yes, he may have committed double murder and later armed robbery and kidnapping but he ran for 2,000 yards in 14 games. Everyone talks about how 4 Super Bowls in a row will never be matched…someone run for 2,000 yards in 14 games and tell me OJ isn’t the best RB of all time.

Not to be mean but I’d have to keep Marc off of this list completely. I’d put polian on the list in his place. He built those teams. If Marc was really a great coach he would have made adjustments to win at least one Super Bowl. Especially on arguably the best team talent wise in the history of the game.

07vrod says:Jun 18, 2013 9:38 AM

This is a FOOTBALL Poll, therefore:
OJ Simpson
Bruce Smith
Jim Kelly
The Electric Company (Buffalo’s “Hogs”)

was tough leaving Thurman Thomas and Marv Levy off the list
Jack Kemp, great man, horrible stats
how do I vote for an owner (Wilson)
Bills LBs were VERY good
last but surely not least, Andre Reed, but where is Jerry Butler (WR) on this list?

1) Marv Levy(Because without him leading, those great players may not have accomplished as much)
2) Jim Kelly(Was the Offense’s backbone)
3) Bruce Smith (Was the Defense’s backbone)
4) 12th man (ALWAYS standing by their team through the good and bad) (Plus, have you ever been to a Bills game? Some of the most loyal fans out there)

jwilliamsspf says:Jun 18, 2013 4:57 PM

Yeah, you messed this up. How do you leave off Ralph Wilson? He was an iconic owner AND he fought in World War II. Isn’t that the second most important thing you are considering with these Mt. Rushmore’s?

I remember Thurman Thomas quit on his team in the Super Bowl against Dallas. Sat down on the bench with his head in his hands. He should have been cut from the team, not candidate for the Bills Mt. Rushmore.

PS: The only “owner” nominated anywhere should have been the GB Packer’s shareholders:)

cyngood says:Jun 19, 2013 4:57 PM

Very proud of “our” 4 straight years! Great memories. Levy, Kelly, Smith, TASKER. Look it up, Thurman! Seriously, look up some tape of Tasker – there was no one like him and still isnt! Couldn’t vote OJ for obvious reasons.

njgiantsfan says:Jun 20, 2013 9:38 AM

Kelly, Smith and OJ with all others tied for 4th. As an old AFL fan, I do like the Cookie Gilchist mention as well.